In this 15-credit, full-time research experience students will learn to image marine biological specimens with diverse tools covering meter to nanometer size scales. Some techniques produce 2-dimensional data and others true 3-D understandings of anatomy. Students will learn to reproduce anatomy with 3D printers. The emphasis will be on learning to ‘drive’ the imaging tools without assistance following a period of mentoring by instructors.

Instructors will lecture on the theory behind each technique so that students can understand the parameters that can be adjusted and why. Methods taught and practiced will include digital photography with macro and wide angle lenses, light photomicroscopy, CT scanning for hard and soft tissue, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, histology of both paraffin and plastic embedded specimens, and confocal microscopy.

The course will be structured around small-group, hands-on instruction on each of the tools. The aim will be for each apprentice to be able to start with a specimen collected from the field from local marine habitats, and end up with a clear visualization of that specimen using each of the techniques taught.

The first 6 weeks of the apprenticeship will be oriented towards learning to use the tools, while the last 4 weeks will be taken up with individual research projects. Depending on participants, the course will include discussions of graduate school, peer review, the publishing process, and other facets of preparation for being a professional scientist and/or job-seeker.

Students enrolled in this program will receive research (R) credits.